A COMPANY fronted by a Dunfermline businessman has been revealed as the new owners of the old Duracord factory.

Edinburgh-based Byzantian Developments Ltd, which is half owned by Steven Turnbull, has unveiled initial plans for the historic and dilapidated Pilmuir Street building.

This week, they submitted a proposal of application notice (PAN) to Fife Council for the erection of new buildings and the conversion, part demolition, extension and refurbishment of existing buildings to form residential units.

The plans would also include associated infrastructure, parking, landscaping and alteration to the existing road access.

The listed building was put on the market last year after previous owners, Linklever Ltd, went into receivership.

In November, community group The Friends of Pilmuir Works was set up with the aim of rescuing the building and bringing it back into use for the good of the local community. However they were unable to raise sufficient funds to bid for the premises and now hope to take on a smaller project.

The new proposals will be on show at a public exhibition next month as part of a consultation process which will also include leafleting residents and a briefing session for local councillors and community councils.

Dunfermline North councillor Ian Ferguson was one of the founding members of the Friends of Pilmuir Works and is keen to see something done with the building.

“Everyone is happy someone has bought it and that something is going to happen,” he said. “Plans have gone in and that is better than the previous 10 years when nothing has happened.

“As a group, we haven’t spoken to them as we didn’t know who they were. It looks like they have done good things in Edinburgh and that is positive. It has taken a year since it first went on the market so something will start happening now and we look forward to seeing the plans.”

Milesmark and Baldridge Community Council chairperson, Ian Baxter, said the proposals would be one of the main items of discussion at their next meeting.

“The Pilmuir Works has been a constant and reoccurring issue raised for many years in the community council – it is unsightly and does not convey a positive message to visitors to Dunfermline,” he said.

“I would view this proposed application as a positive move forward in as much as a company is looking to invest in the centre of Dunfermline and complement the successful developments at Tesco and the Fire Station Creative.

“As there will be several public meetings – not only with the community councils involved but also with the general public – it is important that all views are put forward in whatever forum the consultations will take place.”

Pilmuir Works, linked to St Margaret’s Works by a bridge, was at the centre of the town’s linen damask industry in the 19th century.

It was bought by Dunlop in 1947 to weave tyre fabric and the site, later operated by Duracord, and closed in November 2005.

The public exhibition, where the plans will be on show, will be in the Carnegie Leisure Centre on Thursday, August 10 from 2pm to 8pm.